JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s world cup The team leaves for the tournament next Monday travel visa issues According to the national soccer body, the departure was delayed.
south africa match Co-host Mexico At the opening game of the World Cup on June 11th In Mexico City. playing one of the group games in the US
The South African team was due to depart on Sunday but had not secured visas to the United States for some players and backroom staff, the sports minister said.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said in a post on X that the “debacle” over visas was caused by administrative errors by team officials, calling it embarrassing. He requested a report from the South African Football Association.
“We are being made fun of,” Mackenzie wrote on social media.
The association announced on Monday that it had secured visas for all the players, but four staff members still did not have visas. McKenzie said they were assistant coaches, team doctors, security officers and analysts.
The football federation said it expected travel documents to be completed by the time he boarded a chartered flight in Johannesburg on Monday. An emergency meeting was held on Sunday night.
The federation apologized for the delay and said it had received support from the South African Department of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg to resolve the issue.
In the World Cup qualifiers, South Africa’s team management came under scrutiny after midfielder Teboho Mokoena played in the match against Lesotho despite being suspended. South Africa is deprived of victorytheir hopes of qualifying are threatened.
team I overcame it and qualified. Top of the group with a 1 point difference.
South Africa will play in the World Cup for the first time since 2010 and will also play against the Czech Republic. in atlanta and korea in Monterrey, Mexico. In group A.
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